The Greens’ likely failure to win the Melbourne by-election means that Adam Bandt will struggle to retain his seat in Federal Parliament if both major parties preference against him at the next election.

The Australian Christian Lobby welcomed Labor’s declaration today that it had won the seat.

ACL chief of staff Lyle Shelton said Mr Bandt’s influence in the Federal Parliament had mostly driven the controversial same-sex marriage agenda, causing Labor to damage its brand with mainstream voters by mistakenly associating with it.

“There is a real opportunity now for Labor and the Coalition to combine to see Mr Bandt removed from the Parliament.

“The Greens are to the Left of politics what One Nation was to the Right and it is incumbent upon both sides to ensure their influence is diminished.”

“It is not ‘progressive’ to trash the rights of a child to her or his biological heritage,” Mr Shelton said.